Pak briefs foreign envoys on its probe into Mumbai attacks

Islamabad, Jan 19 (PTI) Pakistan Monday briefed
foreign envoys on its response to the Mumbai terror attacks
and its own probe into information provided by India on the
terrorist incident, as part of an effort to counter the
diplomatic initiative launched by New Delhi.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Interior
Ministry chief Rehman Malik briefed the ambassadors and high
commissioners of most foreign missions in Islamabad at the
Foreign Office.

There was no official word on the meeting though TV
channels quoted sources as saying that Qureshi told the envoys
that Pakistan had initiated a crackdown on the Jamaat-ud-Dawah
and Lashker-e-Taiba following the Mumbai attacks.

Qureshi reportedly said that Pakistan was conducting
its own probe into the information provided by India on the
Mumbai incident. He also said that India had not yet responded
to Pakistan's offers to conduct a joint investigation and to
send a high-level delegation to the neighbouring country to
discuss modalities for such a probe.

This was the first major briefing for diplomats after
the Mumbai attacks. The Pakistan government has faced
criticism at home and abroad for its handling of the fallout
of the Mumbai attack and its response to the diplomatic
campaign mounted by India. Invitations for the briefing were
sent to diplomats by the Foreign Office over the weekend.

Media reports said Indian High Commissioner was not
invited for the meeting because he had been briefed by Foreign
Secretary Salman Bashir just a few days ago. Some officials
also pointed out that Pakistani High Commissioner was not
invited to similar briefings arranged by India.

The reports also suggested that the government might
share with the envoys "new information" that has not been
publicised so far for security reasons. PTI